Agastache plant named &#39;Kudos Mandarin&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct form of  Agastache  plant characterized by orange flowers in large, dense inflorescences, a long bloom time, a very short, compact habit, good winter hardiness, and excellent vigor.

BOTANICAL DENOMINATION

Agastache hybrid

VARIETY DESIGNATION

‘Kudos Mandarin’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAgastache, given the name, ‘Kudos Mandarin’. Agastache is in the familyLamiaceae. This new variety is one of several selections of newAgastache using hardy and dwarf Agastache species in the breeding linesto provide hardiness and compactness. The new cultivar is a selectionfrom the cross between the proprietary seedlings Agastache 46-1(unpatented), as the seed parent, and Agastache 08-2T (unpatented), asthe pollen parent. The new cultivar was selected for its compact habit,hardiness, and orange flowers in dense heads.

Compared to the seed parent, Agastache 46-1 the new cultivar is shorterand hardier.

Compared to the pollen parent, Agastache 08-2T, the new cultivar haslarge, orange flowers rather than small light pink flowers.

Compared to Agastache aurantiaca ‘Orange Sprite’ (an unpatented plant),the new cultivar is hardier with darker orange flowers in denser flowerheads.

Compared to Agastache Orange Nectar™ (U.S. Plant Patent applied for),the new cultivar has clear orange rather than red orange flowers and ismore compact and hardier.

This plant exhibits the following characteristics that make it unique:

1. orange flowers in large, dense inflorescences,

2. a long bloom time,

3. a very short, compact habit,

4. good winter hardiness,

5. and excellent vigor.

The new variety has been reproduced only by asexual propagation (stemcuttings and micropropagation using apical buds and nodes). Each of theprogeny exhibits identical characteristics to the original plant.Asexual propagation by stem cuttings and micropropagation using apicalbuds and nodes as done in Canby, Oreg., shows that the foregoingcharacteristics and distinctions come true to form and are establishedand transmitted through succeeding propagations. The present inventionhas not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. Thephenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change inthe genotype of the plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the new cultivar grown in a one gallon container in fullsun in Canby, Oreg.

FIG. 2 shows a group of nine-month-old Agastache ‘Kudos Mandarin’growing in the field in mid-summer in Canby, Oreg.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new Agastache cultivarbased on observations of 6-month-old specimens in early May growing in agallon container in a warm greenhouse in Canby, Oreg. Canby is Zone 8 onthe USDA Hardiness map. Temperatures range from a high of 95° F. inAugust to an average of 32° F. in January. Normal rainfall in Canby is42.8 inches per year. The color descriptions are all based on The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 5^(th) edition.

-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—upright.        -   Type.—herbaceous perennial.        -   Cold hardiness.—USDA Zone 6-10.        -   Size.—grows to 35 cm wide and 38 cm tall to the top of the            flowers.        -   Vigor.—excellent.        -   Branching.—about 20 main stems from the base, these branch            at every node.        -   Stem.—square in cross section, grows to 5 mm wide and 20 cm            tall to the first flower, pubescent, internodes range from            0.5 to 3 cm long, Yellow Green 146B.        -   Roots.—White 155B, fibrous, plants root easily from stem tip            cuttings.-   Leaf:    -   -   Type.—simple.        -   Arrangement.—opposite.        -   Shape.—ovate.        -   Venation.—pinnate.        -   Margins.—crenate.        -   Apex.—acute.        -   Base.—truncate to reniform.        -   Blade size.—grows to 45 mm long and 32 mm wide.        -   Surface texture.—pubescent on both sides.        -   Petiole description.—4 mm long and 1 mm wide, pubescent,            Yellow Green 146A.        -   Leaf color.—top side Green N137B with vein Green 137B,            bottom side closest to Yellow Green 147B with vein 147C.        -   Fragrance.—aromatic.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—terminal spike with up to 7 whorls.        -   Number of flowers.—up to 100 per spike.        -   Size of inflorescence.—grows to 11 cm tall and 7 cm wide.        -   Peduncle.—grows to 5 cm tall and 3 mm wide, pubescent,            Yellow Green 146B.        -   Pedicel.—grows to 1.5 mm long, pubescent, Yellow Green 148C.        -   Bloom period.—June through frost in Canby, Oreg.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Size.—26 mm long and 5 mm wide at the widest point prior to            opening.        -   Description.—tubular.        -   Surface texture.—pubescent.        -   Color.—closest to Orange Red 31B.-   Flower:    -   -   Type.—zygomorphic.        -   Shape.—bilabiate, tubular.        -   Size.—40 mm long and 9 mm wide.        -   Corolla description.—16 mm long and spreads to 7 mm wide;            color outside and inside Orange 26B except lobes inside and            bottom lobe both sides Orange Red 31B; glabrous inside,            pubescent outside; tube 26 mm long and 1 mm to 5 mm wide; 2            upper lobes joined 5 mm long and 4 mm wide, each oblong,            tips acute, margin entire; three lower lobes, two spreading            sideways and curve out slightly, each 4 mm long and 4 mm            wide, tip acute, margin entire; bottom lobe cupped,            orbicular, margin notched, 4.5 mm wide and 4.5 mm long.        -   Calyx description.—campanulate, 6 mm long and 2 mm wide,            pubescent outside and glabrous inside, 5 lobed, lobes            triangular, 1 mm long, entire, acuminate, Yellow Green 148C.        -   Pistil description.—33 mm long; ovary 1 mm long, Yellow            Green 146D; style 32 mm long, White NN155B blending to            Purple 77A on top 6 mm, stigma two-parted, Purple 77A.        -   Stamen description.—4 in number, paired and exerted, top two            11 mm long and bottom two 10 mm long, filaments Purple 77D,            anthers 1 mm long, Purple 77C, pollen White N155A.        -   Fragrance.—aromatic.        -   Lastingness.—a spike blooms for about 4 weeks on the plant.        -   Fruit/seed.—4 nutlets, 1 mm long, ovoid, Black 202A.-   Pests and diseases: The new cultivar is typical to the genus. No    known resistances to pests or diseases. No problems have been found    in Canby, Oreg.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct form of Agastache plant substantially asshown and described.